Preparing Your Septic Tank Before Selling Property

February 27, 2018

In the state of Georgia, it’s not a requirement that your septic tank be inspected prior to sale, but the buyer may request one be performed and some lenders may even require repairs and additional inspections be completed prior to a property’s purchase. Although the cost of such an inspection becomes the burden of the buyer, it can be a lengthy process, which might prolong the otherwise speedy sale of your home! If you’re in a hurry or you suspect an issue already exists, it may be important to know the status of your septic system before you ever list your property for sale.

First off, you need to be sure that you’re receiving an inspection from a knowledgeable authority in septic services, such as Bishop-Thiem Septic Services. It’s vitally important that your inspector is considered a licensed professional in order to ensure that the documenting of the septic tank’s health prior to property transfer is accurate and does not require further unnecessary inspections.

A variety of information should be procured by the inspection in order to create a full evaluation of your septic system, but these elements are most important to properly assessing the status.

Is the tank in need of pumping or cleaning? Septic tanks should be pumped every 3 to 5 years. If you have reason to believe that your tank is in need of pumping, you should try to get it done before selling, as it may lead to much larger issues, including septic system failure.

Are any repairs to the system necessary? Does the pump, drain field, or lift station need to be replaced? Even if you don’t want to pay for the entirety of the repair, it can be helpful to be aware of these problems before a buyer enters the picture so that it can be properly accounted for.

Of course, there are some things that an inspection won’t necessarily reveal, and that you should try to be aware of. For example, knowing the septic system’s age, location, and components can be significant information to a buyer. If you’re curious how you might be able to procure such information, you can check out our recent blog post on that exact topic!